2020 AIA Flint Design Award Winner

HISTORIC PRESERVATION DESIGN AWARD

A RETURN TO GLORY.

The City, to encourage downtown improvements, developed a ‘Façade Program’ available to downtown building owners. The program’s dollars are supported through MEDC programs. The City hired the architect to provide Façade Studies for individual businesses in the downtown. These buildings were of various ages, styles, and materials. The City also provided historic photos of the buildings as a resource for the rehabilitation.

Buildings varied in style and most were constructed in the late 19th century. The buildings have undergone numerous renovations over the years, which has augmented their original appearance. The architect studied the historic photos and met with individual building owners and the City to develop designs for each building. Cost projections and renderings were prepared for each building owner and for submission to MEDC for funding. The project included an initial study, for approximately ten buildings, with three buildings moving forward into review for MEDC grant funding. All the designs were reviewed by the State Historic Preservation Office for appropriateness. Additionally, much of the downtown is a Historic District, which required that the designs also be reviewed by the local Historic District Commission.